Blueberry :: Communities Directory

Forming Formed: 2006 Established: 2007

This page last updated:11/6/2011

Blueberry

Portland, Oregon,

United States

Blueberry is an urban farming collective house within an organic cohousing community in Portland, Oregon. Four sets of friends bought houses on the same block, three in a row and one across the street. We love the unintentional community of our neighborhood, friendly, diverse, and mostly low-income, with small houses on large lots and a “country” feel. We have work parties, neighborhood potlucks, and parties for the larger community.

Most of us have lived rurally before and maintain as much of the rural life as we can, but an urban life allows us to be less car-dependent, and some of us are completely car-free.

We share passion for our land, our neighborhood, social justice, and sustainability. All of us grow enough vegetables to eat well and still give some away. At Blueberry we heat with wood, generate almost no trash or recycling, eat primarily local, organic whole foods, have no TV, and commute by bicycle. All of us have jobs and lives “off the farm”—we are musicians, teachers, bike mechanics, activists, etc. We range in age from four to 50. A few of us embrace spirit and ritual, others choose not to. We value tolerance, diversity, and listening.

Each household has its own internal structure. Blueberry has set a clear intention to transition to cooperative ownership within the next few years.

As we are an urban community, we are not able to house dogs - they tend to dig up garden beds and scare the ducks. Guide dogs will be considered.

Contact:

Blueberry
4446 NE Going St
Portland, Oregon 97218 United States

Community location is placed at the center of the zip/postal code, city/state, or city/country (not based on street addresses)

This page last updated:11/6/2011

Visitors Accepted

(housing limited - local residents welcome!)

Visitor Process: Send letter describing yourself and your interests. No dogs, please, excepting seeing-eye and similar guide animals.

Statement of Housing Non-discrimination:

Because our housing is a single housing unit and requires the sharing of bathroom, kitchen and common space membership/residency may be restricted based on sex/gender in accordance with the law. Our community does not discriminate based on race/color, national origin, religion, family status (i.e. having children, not having children, or being pregnant), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, ancestry, source of income, age, creed, personal appearance, political affiliation, HIV infection, military/veteran status, unfavorable military discharge, gender identity or expression, receiving public assistance, or domestic abuse.

Population Members(adults and children): 14 Open to new members: Yes (best if already live in/near Portland)	Government Decision Making: By consensus Identified Leader: No Leadership Core Group: No	Labor and Money Financial Style: Members have independent finances Open to Members with Pre-existing Debt: Yes Labor Contribution: Expected (gardening, home maintenance, chores) Join Fee: No Regular Fees: Yes (We all pay rent - $100 - 500 dep. on room.)
Land and Buildings Urban Area: 0.8 acres (0.3 hectares) Land Owned By: Individual community member(s) Number of Residences: 4	Food, etc. Percentage of Food Grown: 6-20% Share Community Meals: 2-5 times/week Dietary Choice or Restrictions: Diet is up to each individual Dietary Practice: Omnivorous (organic, local, non-processed) Alcohol Use: Used occasionally Tobacco Use: Seldom used	Social Factors Common Spiritual Practices: No Which Spiritual Traditions(s): Paganism/Earth Religions (and several atheists) Educational Style(s): Other

Cohousing Details

Cohousing Status:

Completed

Year Completed:

1939

(all buildings preexisting)

Number of Units:

Architect:

N/A

Developer:

N/A

Commercial Lender:

N/A

Become an Editor Current editor(s): rachelf

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